title: Invasion patterns in brain metastases of solid cancers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Brain metastases are generally considered to be well demarcated from the surrounding brain parenchyma, although infiltrative growth patterns have been observed. We systemically investigated infiltration patterns and expression of adhesion molecules in a large and well-defined series of autopsy cases of brain metastases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-seven autopsy specimens from 57 brain metastasis patients (primary tumor: 27 lung cancer, 6 breast cancer, 8 melanoma, 2 colorectal cancer, 1 kidney cancer, and 13 other) were evaluated for patterns of invasion into surrounding brain parenchyma. Expression of integrins αv; cytoplasmic β3, αvβ3, αvβ5, αvβ6, and αvβ8; and of E and N cadherin were evaluated using immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three main invasion patterns were seen: well-demarcated growth (29/57, 51%), vascular co-option (10/57, 18%), and diffuse infiltration (18/57, 32%). There was no statistically significant association of invasion pattern with primary tumor type, although vascular co-option was most common in melanoma brain metastases (4/10). Invasion patterns of different brain metastases of the same patient were highly concordant (P < .001, chi-square test). Distance of infiltration from the main tumor mass ranged from 12.5 µm to 450 µm (median 56.2 µm) and was not significantly different between the vascular co-option and the diffuse infiltration groups. Levels of αvβ6 were significantly higher in the well-demarcated group than in the vascular co-option and the diffuse infiltration groups (P = .033, Kruskal-Wallis test). Expression of αvβ5 in tumor cells was higher in brain metastasis lesions previously treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (P = .034, chi-square test).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Distinct invasion patterns of brain metastases into the brain parenchyma are not specific for primary tumor types, seem to be influenced by expression of αv integrin complexes, and may help to guide clinical decision-making.
authors.affiliation: Corresponding Author: Matthias Preusser, MD, Department of Medicine I and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Central Nervous System Tumours Unit (CCC-CNS), Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria. matthias.preusser@meduniwien.ac.at.
authors.forename: Anna S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Berghoff
authors.forename: Orsolya
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rajky
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Winkler
authors.forename: Rupert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bartsch
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Furtner
authors.forename: Johannes A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hainfellner
authors.forename: Simon L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Goodman
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weller
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schittenhelm
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Preusser
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001344:Autopsy; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D016023:Integrins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015820:Cadherins; D016023:Integrins
keywords: adhesion molecules; brain metastases; cadherin; integrin; invasion